Conveyor track switch



June 24, 1958 f F. J. HENDERSON f' 2,840,006 Y( coNvEYoR TRACK SWITCH Filed July 14, 195s s sheets-sheet 1 INVENToR. l

June 24, 1958 F. J. .HENDERSON 2,840,006

coNvEYoR TRACK' SWITCH Filed July 14. 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a ef V I K IIHIIINlII wif/W724i \a g 2@ INVENTOR.

June 24, 1958 J, HENDERSQN 2,840,006

CONVEYOR TRACK SWITCH Filed July 14, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 3a f/f@ E: 5 4,

United States patent O CONVEYOR TRACK SWITCH Frank I. Henderson, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Jervis B. Webb Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,903

5 Claims. (Cl. 104-102) trolley bracket which has a projecting portion extending between the space separating the rails. Usually, the .projecting portion of the trolley bracket is equipped with some guiding means, such as rollers mounted on vertical axes, which coact with the vertical edges or llanges of the pair of rails to center the trolley to guide and Vreduce the friction 4during turns or in traversing curved portions of the trackway. pelled along a trackway of this type either by a separate driving conveyor, by hand, by gravity or by various formsV of intermittent motion devices; and in systems, by combinations of these types of propulsion. Consequently., the trackway supporting the trolleys can be laid out to include main and branch lines, with selectively operable switches for directing'the `trolley in the desired path` from one lineV to another. Y

The present invention is directed to improvements in the construction of such switches, which, in the past, have conventionally comprised a short track section for eachA direction of travel, e. g., main and branch, these track sections being mounted on a frameworkA for lateral move-V ment so that in'switching vfrom mainV to branch line the frameworkis moved laterally to.y replace the main line section withg the branch line section. This type of construction is cumbersome, heavy and expensive. It requires a full break in all the track rails involved, which necessitates accurate fitting of the rail sections in order to minimize the possibility of trolley wheels becoming lodgedy inthe space at a break. These full breaks also lessen theV stability of the trackway, particularly in overhead or suspended trackway systems, or at least require additional track supporting members to maintain stability.

.Thepresent switch constructionernploys a tongue as a moving member., This -tongue operates inl conjunction with two continuous rail sections-which diverge toform a switch point-and is suspended for transverse movement between the rail sections, the tongue having two converging edgesurfaces each complementary to one of the rail sections. The tongue suspension means permit the edge portion of the tongue to overhang the` suspension and perform both the supporting and Vguiding functions ofthe trackway. ,l

Preferably, ythe Vtongue is simply suspended lfrom a member movably carried by an overhead framework, which,v

in turn is spaced vertically Ifrom the tongue a distance sutcient to provide clearance with a trolley passing along the track sectionlocated beneath the framework. This vertical spacing of the tongue is preferablyl 'an adjustable l one to simplify the problem of properly aligning the switch with the adjacent track members during installation.

In many installations, trolleys are pro-V switch points encountered in normal practice-these being a 90 junction, either lrightor left-hand, a Y junction, and a three-way junction. In each case the junction illustrates a switch particularly designed for an overhead conveyor installation of the type where the load carrying trolleys are supported on a separate trackway such as previously mentioned. These load carrying trolleys are propelled along a main line by an overhead conveyor construction acting as a drive line. The switch construction permits these load carrying trolleys to be diverted from the main line onto branch lines, or permits the trolleys to be fed from branch lines back onto the main line for propulsion by the drive line conveyor.

The drawing comprises the following views:

Fig. l, a plan view of a 90 type switch.

Fig. 2, an elevation of the construction taken transversely through the main line trackway in the direction of the arrows Z-Zon Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the construction taken along the line 3-3 Vof Fig. l, `the fixed trackways being omitted from thisview for the sake of clarity.

Fig. 4, a sectional elevation taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. l, likewise omitting the lixed track section.

Fig. 5, a plan view ofthe switch construction arranged for a Y-type junction.

Fig. 6, a plan view of the switch construction arranged for a three-way junction. Y

The plan view of Fig. l shows the relationship between the switch, a main trackway 11, and a branch trackway v12, both trackways being shown in phantom. The elevation of Fig. 2 shows that a trackway is composed of leftand right-hand angle members 13 and 14, respectively, whichV along the main trackway 11, are suspended by hangers'lS from an overhead I-beam 16 which forms a track for conventional overhead conveyor trolleys V17. These trolleys are connected by a chain which Vis driven by suitable driving means not shown, and thus forms a means for propelling a load carrying trolley 19which travels along the main trackway in the. direction of the arrow V18'in Fig. l, assuming that the switch is positioned at the entrance end of a'branch line.

At the switch point, the Yright-hand track angle 14 diverges from the main trackway in a curved path and becomes a track member of Va branch trackway. The leftv hand track angle 13 continues through the switch point,

` unbroken. Beyond the switch point a track angle member 14a picks up the right-hand side of the main trackway, and a track angle member 13a picks up the left-hand side of the branch trackway. j

The switch construction of the invention employed at the switch point so formed consists in a simple framework located above the level of the trackways and comprising a pair of side `frame members 20 and 21 (Fig. 4) interconnected atone end by an angle member'22 (Figs. 2 and 3), and by an intermediate transverse `member 23 which consists in a piece of bar stock connected to the lower edges ofthe side frame members 20 and 21. The facing surfaces of the side frames are provided with longitudinally extending grooves or ways 24 which slidably support a plate 25. i

SuspendedV from the plate 25 is a tongue member 2,6, the suspending Vmeans comprising three vertically l eX- tending rods 27. Each of these rods is secured to the tongue member 26 by being inserted within a hole 26 formed in the tongue member and welded in position. Bracing plates or gusssets 29 extend between each pair of the rods 27 and are welded to the rods and to the surface of the tongue member to provide greater rigidity.

The'upper end of each rod 27 is provided with a threaded portion30,pand passes through a hole 31 in r'the sur- .face' of the' plate 25, the plate beingn secured to each post Patented June 24, 1,958.

between a pair of nuts 32 carried by the threaded portion thereof. This type of construction' for connecting the tongue to the plate is employed so as to afford some meansY for 'adjusting the relative. vertical position. between tongue member andirs. supporting-plate 25.' '-Thejnnree# point suspension afforded by the rods 27,`in combination with ,the 'variable-'length connection` affordsadjustable' relative positioningbetween plate and'tongu'e memberV inV frequently employed in lieu thereof.` Thisj aircylind'er ha'saV cleyis `36 on its ,rod 37 connected toI a` vertically.V

extending post 38 by a pin 35|. The post 38^is fixed to the upper surface ofthe Supporting plate 25'. 'The other end of the air cylinderis also provided with a clevis 40 which is secured to' thehorizonta'lV an'ge 44'1Yof 'the end frame member 22 by a pin 42.

' Since manyv suitable types of values for controlling the operation of the air cylinder are commercially available, no particular type is shown.l Fig. 1, however, does illustratethe fact that limit `switches commonly employed for controlling' such valves may be conveniently mounted above the main supporting lplate 25 of the switchassembly. Two limit switches are indicated in phantom at 45 and 46 `in this view, these being suitably carried by-the fixed supporting structure soas to beactuated by a vertical member 47 secured to the` upper surface of the plate 25. The valve controlled by these limit switches can be conveniently mounted on the supporting base 48 `carried by the end frame member 22. f

Fig. l shows the switch withl the tongue member 26 in thrownor branchline position.-V The' tongue. member 26 isseen to be generally triangular in shape. hypotenuse `50 of this triangular shape is curved to correspond to the path of the branch line 12, and the vertical vsurface 50a (Fig. 4) forms a lateral guide for atrolley following the diverging branch line path.- This vertical surface 50a is spaced outwardly from or overhangs, the points of support of the rods 27 by-'suchl al! distance that the overhanging portion of the tongue forms:

a horizontally extending track surface 50b. The extent of this track surface is generally indicated by the space between the vertical edge 50a and the arc 51 shown'in phantom, whichI arc indicates the path of travel` of the4 outer edge of the wheels of the trolleys traveling towards the branch trackway 12. .i i

One` leg of the triangular-shaped tongue member 26 similarly forms the vertical and horizontalportions of the main trackway passing through the switch point. Here, the phantom line 52 generally indicates the inner boundY ary `of thehorizontal track surface, as defined by the wheels of a trolley, and` again vthis surface of the tongue 26 is in outwardly or overhanging relationship to the points of support provided by the verticalrods 2'7. The vertical edge `53 of this leg forms the lateral. boundary of themain trackway. t v l The switch is moved to straight-line position by actu'- ation of the air cylinder 35 to draw the sliding supporting plate 25 towards `the right `as the parts are viewedin the plan showing of Fig. l. so that theledge 5,3 of the tongue member` 26 properly fairs into the-straight-line trackway 11, either by the engagement of the` curved edge 50a with the right-hand track member 14, or, if necessary, by engagement :of the end surface 5 5 of the supporting plate 25 with. a stopV 56 carried by the end frame member 22. This stopv 56 is' The switch assembly preferably includesrtwo mount` ing plates.` One of these is the generally triangular shaped plate 60 `shown best in Figs. 1 and 2 which has This movement is limited` Y undersurfaces of the main track member 14a.

4. its upper horizontal edge secured to the undersurface of the side frame member 20 at the left or entrance side of the switch. This plate 60 is provided with a horizontally extending slotted hole 61 and has an outwardly projecting portion 62 adapted to engage the underside of the horizontal flange of thetrack member 14. The plate 60 is adapted to be secured to a conventional track hanger 15 which is v provided with a vertically extending slotted hole 63. A'bolt (not shown) can be employed to' connect the mounting plate 611 withtthehange'r 15 through the slotted holes thus providing for relative'adjustment of the position of the switch assembly.`

The other mounting plate is a member 65 of generally i rectangular configuration having its upper horizontal edge 66 secured to the underside of the left lorexit side frame member 21. The lower portion of the plate 65 is pro vided with two projecting portions. One, 67, engages the The other, 68, engages the undesurface's of the branch track member 13a. tending slotted hole 69 which registers with a vertically extending slotted hole 70 formed in another conventional track hanger 15a, these slotted holes 69 and 70 also being adapted to receivea bolt for adjustably mounting the switch assembly.

Thus, the vswitch mounting plates register with the track surfaces involved and connect to conventional track hangers. The adjustment provided in these connections, together with the adjustable amounting of the switch tongue member 26 permits the switch assembly to be readily'aligned with the track sections in the field. Registry of the mounting plates 60 and 65 with the respective track sections and the track hangers tends to prevent any misalignment of the switch occuring during service.V

Preferably, the end frame member 22 of the switch' is also supported by cooperating engagement with another conventional track supporting yoke member 72, whichl is not shown in detail, but which is a member having a configuration `somewhat similar to the yokes 15 and 15a, but being of lesser vertical height due to the fact that noA prof pelling conveyor is employed in conjunction withA theparf ticular branch line 12 shown.

Except for configuration, the Y junction shown iii-Fig.

5 is very similar to the construction previously described:

A switch station isformed al; the point of divergeneebetween two-track, members 113 and 114, these track memf bers preferably continuing through the switch station' unbroken.

to a plate 125 whichis slidably carried in groovesv 124 of a pair of side frame members and 121. These members 120 and 121 are part of the switch framework, which is completed by an end member 122 and a Ypair of cross bars 145 and 146.- A pair of adjustable stops.147 are carried by each ofthe cross bars 145 and 146 to'limit sliding movement of the plate 125 by contact with either end thereof.

Movement of the plate 125 and switch tongue'lZ is shownas-controlled by an actuating cylinder 135, having one end fixed to the frame'end member122 by a connecting pin 142 audits piston rod provided with a clevis 136 whichV isconnected by a pinV 139 to a' post to the upperrsurface of the plate 125.

The switch tongue 126 has track portions' disposed `out-V wardly :of .the points of connection of the vertical posts 127, which portions lform continuations of either ofthe track members 113 or 114 depending Aupon the'positionl of thettongue. In the position shown, theswitch tongue connects? the track 114 with a track section 114a n the upper left `,corner of the view; whereas,`when the switch is thrown Ito its other position, by operation of the actunating cylinder 135, ,the end of the plate 125 contaetsf the stop's carriedV by the cross bar 145 and the switch tongue provides a track portion for connecting the track` Plate 65 isal'so provided witha horizontally ex` 138 attached member 113 with the member 113:1 in the upper right corner of the view.

The three-way junction of Fig. 6 consists essentially in a pair of switch assen'lblis."y Switch units ofthe type shown in Figs. 1 to 4 will ordinarilyk be manufactured in both le'ftand right-hand models. The construction shown iny Fig.V 6 combinesV standard leftright-hand units to form a three-way junctinso" that a specialized assembly is notrequiredfor this purpose. p f N For convenience in describing the Atl'n'ee-way junction arrangement,"r the`entra`nce point of the junction will be assumed to be defined by the'place of divergence Vbetween the members 213 and 214 of a .trackway. Track member 213 curves Yto the left from theentrance point, while track 214 curves to the right, with the left and light trackways being taken up beyond the junction by track members 21411 and 213a, respectively.

A left-hand switch assembly is employed for establishing a trolley wheel supporting surface between track member 214 at the entrance to* the junction and track member 214a. This switch assembly includes a switch tongue 26L suspended by vertical posts 27 from a plate 25, slidably supported between side frames and 21. These side frames are connected by an end frame member 22 and a cross member 23.

Connection between the track member 213 entering the junction and 213a leaving the junction to the right is established by a right-hand switch assembly including a switch tongue 26R and corresponding members for supporting it as indicated by the similar reference numerals applied to such members.

A through trackway extends from the junction and is defined by track members 203 and 204, with the tongue 26L of the left-hand switch assembly serving to establish a connecting track surface between track members 213 and 203 and the Aswitch tongue 26R of the right-hand switch assembly serving to connect track members 214 and 204.

Actuating cylinders 35L and `SSR are provided to control the position of the sliding plates supporting the leftand right-hand switch tongue members, respectively, these actuating cylinders each being connected between a post 38 carried by the'sliding plate and the end member 22 of the xed frame in the manner previously described.

The entire switch unit is shown in position to establish a connection between the trackway 213-214 and the left-hand trackway 213-21411. Straight-through operation between the trackways 213-214 and 203-204 is obtained by actuation of the cylinder 35L of the lefthand switch assembly to move the sliding plate thereof into contact with stops 56'L and producing a separation between the leftand right-hand switch tongues along the line 205. This will be referred to as the through position of the switch unit.

Right-hand position, where a connection is established between Vthe trackways 213-214 and 21311-214, is obtained by the actuation of both cylinders 35L and SSR from the position shown, the limit of movement again being defined by the left-hand stops 56L. If the switch is in through position, right-hand position is of course obtained by actuation of the cylinder 35R to movev its associated sliding plate out of contact with the adjustable stops 56R, this movement continuing until contact between the switch tongue members 26L and 26R is reestablished along the line 205, which is then displaced to the left from the position shown to form a continuation of the vertical guide surface of track member 203 and to lie tangent to the vertical guide surface of track member 213 at the entrance end of the switch.

Figs. 5 and 6 have been included mainly to illustrate the exible nature of the switch construction of the invention and the relative ease with which is can be adapted to interconnect trackways at junctions of various types and configuration. For example, the construction of Fig. 5 is essentially the same as that of Figs. l to 4. The same basic component parts areY employed in each, with the dilerence in configuration of the Vjunction beingiftaken care of mainly by a change in the configurationI of the' switch'tongue. The'three-way 'constructionof Fig. 6

is thought to offer a'yery convincing demonstrationlof former 'constructions would commonly employ three separatevsuspendedsets of track sections, one `left-hand, one straight-through,y and one right-hand. These sections are mounted for lateral movement-in unison to be selectivelyr registered 'withtheirV respective .stationary .trackways.y Consequently a great range of movement is required, and the resulting construction is extremely heavy, cumbersome and expensive in comparison to the construction obtainable by the employment of the invention.

Any modifications to the construction shown included within the scope of the following claims, are to be considered as part of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A track switch construction for use with an overhead trackway of the type having spaced horizontal rails and vertical guide flanges for supporting a wheeled trolley, comprising a switch frame, a switch tongue having a pair of diverging, generally vertical guide surfaces each adapted to form a continuation of a vertical guide surface of said trackway and having wheel-supporting portions alongside the said vertical guide surfaces thereof, a reciprocable supporting member carried by said switch frame, and means suspending said switch tongue from said supporting member in spaced relation therewith for clearance between a trolley passing over said switch tongue and said switch frame, said suspending means being connected to said switch tongue within the area bounded by the wheel-supporting portions thereof for clearance between a trolley passing over said switch tongue and said suspending means.

2. A track switch construction `as set forth in claim l further characterized by said suspending means including at least two vertically -adjustable points of connection between said tongue member and said supporting member for adjustment of the horizontal attitude of said tongue member for alignment with said trackway.

3. A track switch according to claim 1 further characterized by said suspending means comprising a plurality of separate suspending members each carrying vertically adjustable connecting means, and brace members rigidly interconnecting said suspending Vmembers below the level of said connecting means.

4. A track switch construction for use with trackways of the type formed by a pair of rail members laterally spaced to provide a guide slot therebetween comprising a pair of switch tongues each having a pair of intersecting vertical surfaces adapted to form continuations of the side walls of said guide slot and horizontal wheelsupporting areas bordering said vertical surfaces, a framework, means for mounting each of said switch tongues on said framework for independent movement transversely of said trackway, Vsaid switch tongues being relatively positioned on said framework so that arvertical surface of one tongue extends substantially parallel and in confronting relation to a vertical surface of the 7 member, means mounting said, supporting member` for movement.` generally transversely of said tra'ckways, Aa tongue meinber having intersectingxvertical,surfaces each adapted to form a continuation of avertical surface. of

A saidigide slotjn each position of the switch said tongue 5 Referencesj Cited inthe le of this patent NITED STATES PATENTS Brown etfal. Mar. 30, Zipernowsky' Feb. 18, "Cruise Feb. 17, Y Bishop `et al. Apr. 26, Bennington May 31, Bennington Jan. 26, Moon June 14, Pinder Ian. 14, Henderson Oct. 24,

. FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland May 31, 

